WheresBlackhawk said:mrbenja0618, if you read my synopsis a few pages back, Beru does play a part, not MAJOR, but I would still say she is important.
Bingowings - Yes, I've been thinking about moving up the introduction of not-padme. I'm not sure we need more royalty, but I was kind of fond of her being Bail's woman. Way back someone mentioned that Bail wasn't on Alderaan when his father is killed, because he has no intrest in being king. How about this as part of my synopsis?
Obiwan and Anakin track down Bail's entourage. A woman cuts them off from entering the room and questions why they need to see Bail. Anakin tries to be smooth and ease his way past her. She clocks him and he hits the ground HARD. She repeats, " I asked...nicely...What's your business here?" Obiwan explains that it has to do with Bail's father and then helps Anakin to his feet, "Didn't see that one coming?" Anakin replies, "You show me any man who can read a woman." Obiwan smile, "Come on." As they are led into the room, Anakin rubs his pain and whispers to Obiwan, "I think I'm in love."
When they speak to Bail, Obiwan tells him calmly about the invasion of Alderaan. Bail is shocked and doesn't know what to do. Obiwan says that he should come with them to Coruscant. His droid, c3p0, tells him that it is his responsibility as the new king to survive and should NOT put himself into harm's way. Anakin makes an impassioned speech about how it is his responsibility to help his people. They should be placed before even his own life. Bail doesn't seem to be interested in putting ANYTHING before HIS life. When the woman from the entrance sides with Obiwan and Anakin and Bail notice a glance shared between her and Anakin, hehanges his tune and decides to go with them (only to impress her).
This way we can have an interesting arc for Bail. He can start as a reluctant leader who doesn't really care for his people (not a jerk, just someone who would rather be free of ANY responsibility) and grow into that man who would kneel before the emperor for the good of his people and still be part of the rebellion behind the emperor's back for the good of ALL.
Sophia wasn't of high enough rank and to marry the Archduke which caused a scandal which resulted in the security being taken off their visit to Sarajevo and allowed their assassination to happen (starting World War I) so I'm ok with her being not a very high aristocrat but I'd prefer her to be high enough for Bail to know her well enough to be interested.
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What if Notpadme survives all the way passed the creation of the Empire only to be assassinated in a reverse JFK scene when Leia is about 3yrs old.
Palpatine could hire some "famous bounty hunter" to knock her off (pushing Anakin further off the edge) and make it look like a botched attempt to take out Viceroy Antilles on his coronation day and blame it on the Rebels (it would give bucket head something to do more in his idiom than being a cell donor or playing bodyguard to a giant slug).
That would add some irony to Vader hiring him in Episode V.
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Padme in the original trilogy is a part time Queen in a very odd form of monarchy. It lends a sense of credibilty to a fantasy if it's based on structures grounded in reality, who's heard of a monarchy of elected little girls?
Princes do marry showgirls but it's very rare.
Il ove your idea of Bail being a reluctant Viceroy it adds depth to his character.